Led by Ryan Day on the sideline, the Ohio State Buckeyes know there is only one positive outcome for the upcoming NCAA season. After hoisting college football’s National Championship in January, the Buckeyes only have a repeat in mind.
That’s a task that rolls off the tongue much easier than it’s put into effect. But Ohio State is determined to make good on its promise. With a star-studded roster, there is no reason to believe the Buckeyes aren’t capable of strucking gold once again.
Day proved he can guide this team to the promised land last season. Much has changed of course. Ohio State saw 14 of its guys move on to the NFL, while 11 players made use of the NCAA transfer portal to walk away from Columbus.
Regardless, the sky is still the limit for the program in the Birthplace of Aviation—always has been and always will be. As fall camp is underway in Columbus, Day and the Buckeyes have reportedly dodged a major bullet after a key player on the defensive side of the ball went down with an injury.
“The lower body injury sustained in practice earlier today by Ohio State projected starting DT Eddrick Houston does not look like a long-term injury,” insider Pete Thamel posted on his X, formerly Twitter, account. “The early results are that it’s not considered serious.”
Houston, we don’t have a problem
Eddrick Houston is coming off a promising freshman year with the Buckeyes, with his sophomore campaign only set for even better numbers. The 6’3” defensive-lineman is projected to earn a starting role in Day’s stop unit.
While his numbers are far from mind-blowing, Houston has been quietly evolving his game and he showed flashes of it during the national championship run last season. In the decisive game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Houston recorded a career-high two solo tackles.
Big departures
The Buckeyes saw four defensive-linemen get drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft, further opening the scenario for Houston to become a starter. The draftees include: Tyleik Williams (28th overall to the Detroit Lions), JT Tuimoloau (45th overall to the Indianapolis Colts), Jack Sawyer (123rd overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and Ty Hamilton (148th overall to the Los Angeles Rams).
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Looking at the bigger picture, Ohio State witnessed several other pivotal departures. As a result the Buckeyes will be rolling into the 2025 college football campaign with an almost unrecognizable offense, as they waved goodbye to:
- QB Will Howard
- WR Emeka Egbuka
- OG Donovan Jackson
- OT Josh Simmons
- HB Quinshon Judkins
- HB TreVeyon Henderson